Firefox is not entering text in text boxes when I type stuff in them. Also, text sometimes ends up in the address bar when it shouldn't.
I'm having a very strange problem that's only occurring with Firefox and not any other browser. Since this new update went through, whenever I go to Google's web page, I will type a search on the text box on Google's web page. The text doesn't appear in that text box. But instead, is somehow being captured by Firefox's address bar. Not only that, ever since the update, whenever I type a response in a text box on my Facebook page, Youtube, or anywhere with a text box to reply or make comments, whatever I typed doesn't even show up. I see it when I type it in the proper text box. But after I click "Submit" or "Enter" on the sites, no text is submitted and my comment disappears. This happens on all the sites with text boxes, and it ONLY happens with Firefox, and has only been happening since the update. It's getting frustrating typing long answers to questions that require long explanations of things, only to have them not get submitted to the site. It's like Firefox is blocking me from commenting or making comments. I'm not having the same problem with my phone browser. It's only a problem on my PC one.
All Replies (2)
blacklight9 said
Since this new update went through, whenever I go to Google's web page, I will type a search on the text box on Google's web page. The text doesn't appear in that text box. But instead, is somehow being captured by Firefox's address bar.
Firefox 89 does that on the built-in Firefox Home / new tab page with the Google search box, but it shouldn't happen if you go directly to https://www.google.com/. Also, Franz provided a link to a setting to turn off this new behavior.
Not only that, ever since the update, whenever I type a response in a text box on my Facebook page, Youtube, or anywhere with a text box to reply or make comments, whatever I typed doesn't even show up. I see it when I type it in the proper text box. But after I click "Submit" or "Enter" on the sites, no text is submitted and my comment disappears. This happens on all the sites with text boxes, and it ONLY happens with Firefox, and has only been happening since the update.
But you could post here? This site uses dumb text boxes with no fancy scripting attached, while FB and YT use sophisticated editors that monitor what you are typing and pasting. If there are problems with fancy editors, this could be related to Tracking Protection or to content blocking add-ons. I don't know whether there is anything new in Firefox 89 along those lines.
(Usual suggestions follow)
If a site is generally known to work in Firefox, these are standard suggestions to try when it stops working normally:
Double-check content blockers: Firefox's Tracking Protection feature, and extensions that counter ads and tracking, may break websites that embed third party content (meaning, from a secondary server).
(A) The shield icon toward the left end of the address bar usually turns a bit purplish when content is blocked. Click the icon to learn more or make an exception. See: Enhanced Tracking Protection in Firefox for desktop.
(B) Extensions such as Adblock Plus, Blur, Disconnect, DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials, Ghostery, NoScript, Privacy Badger, uBlock Origin or uMatrix usually provide a toolbar button to manage blocked content in a page. There may or may not be a number on the icon indicating the number of blocked items; you sometimes need to click the button to see what's going on and test whether you need to make an exception for this site.
Cache and Cookies: When you have a problem with one particular site, a good "first thing to try" is clearing your Firefox cache and deleting your saved cookies for the site.
(1) Clear Firefox's Cache
See: How to clear the Firefox cache
If you have a large hard drive, this might take a few minutes.
(2) Remove the site's cookies (save any pending work first). While viewing a page on the site, click the lock icon at the left end of the address bar. After a moment, a "Clear Cookies and Site Data" button should appear at the bottom. Go ahead and click that.
In the dialog that opens, you will see one or more matches to the current address so you can remove the site's cookies individually without affecting other sites.
Then try reloading the page. Does that help?
Testing in Firefox's Safe/Troubleshoot Mode: In this mode, Firefox temporarily deactivates extensions, hardware acceleration, any userChrome.css/userContent.css files, and some other advanced features to help you assess whether these are causing the problem.
If Firefox is running:
You can restart Firefox in Safe/Troubleshoot Mode using either:
- "3-bar" menu button > Help > Troubleshoot Mode... (before Fx88: Restart with Add-ons Disabled)
- (menu bar) Help menu > Troubleshoot Mode... (before Fx88: Restart with Add-ons Disabled)
and OK the restart. A small dialog should appear. Click the Open button (before Fx88: "Start in Safe Mode" button).
If Firefox is not running:
Hold down the Shift key when starting Firefox. (On Mac, hold down the option/alt key instead of the Shift key.) A small dialog should appear. Click the Open button (before Fx88: "Start in Safe Mode" button).
Note: Don't use the Refresh without first reviewing this article to understand what will be deleted: Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings.
Any improvement?